FRESNO, Calif. -- AJ Murphy homered and drove in three runs, and Dee Dee Hernandez and Allie Light combined on a four-hit shutout to lead the San Diego State softball team to a 4-0 victory over Fresno State Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond. The Aztecs (17-13, 4-2 MW) captured the series with the win.
The game was scoreless through four innings with a combined two baserunners until SDSU got things going in the top of the fifth. Makena Brocki reached on a one-out error and Murphy followed by taking the first pitch she saw over the left-field fence. It was Murphy's first home run of the season.
San Diego State then loaded the bases in the inning as Bella Espinoza singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, before Lala Macario and Mac Barbara (intentional) were each walked with two outs. Bulldog (20-10, 2-4 MW) pitcher Taylor Gilmore, however, struck out Cali Decker looking to keep it a 2-0 game.
Following an approximately 40-minute weather delay, FS got a pair of runners on base with back-to-back one-out singles. Light, however, retired the next two batters with a flyout and a groundout to get out of the jam.
In the sixth, Alyssa Garcia was hit by a pitch and replaced by Elianna Reyes. Reyes moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Goldberg and an infield single by Brocki, and then scored on Murphy's sac fly to center field.
The Aztecs added an insurance run in the seventh when a double by Decker scored pinch runner Julie Holcomb.
Light then worked around a two-out walk in the seventh to clinch the win for SDSU.
Hernandez (6-2) picked up the win for San Diego State, tossing four scoreless innings with just one hit and no walks allowed, while striking out two. Light pitched the final three innings, giving up three hits and a walk, striking out three to pick up her second save of the season.
Murphy paced the Aztec offense with three RBIs, while Barbara and Macario each singled and walked.
THE NOTE I
In six Mountain West games this season, SDSU is outscoring the opposition, 30-10.
THE NOTE II
San Diego State picked up its fourth shutout of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY
LHP Dee Dee Hernandez finished the weekend 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 10 1/3 innings, giving up just three hits and two walks, striking out four. RHP Allie Light, meanwhile, was 0-0 with a save and a 0.64 ERA in 11 innings, allowing seven hits and four walks, striking out six.
UP NEXT
SDSU welcomes Colorado State for a weekend series with games set for 6 p.m. PT Thursday, 6 p.m. PT Friday and noon PT Saturday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
San Diego State 4, Fresno State 0
San Diego State (17-13, 4-2 MW 000 021 1 -- 4 6 0
Fresno State (20-10, 2-4 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1
Hernandez, Light (5) and Garcia; Neiss, Gilmore (5) and Bunker
W - Hernandez, 6-2; L - Neiss, 8-5; SV - Light, 1
HR: San Diego State, Murphy (1)
Aztecs Shut Out Fresno State, 4-0, to Claim Series
